Innovation Council zeroes in on education, economy and green business

If necessity is the mother of invention, then it seems collaboration is the mother of innovation. Business and community leaders from Sonoma Valley have been part of a collaborative effort with other professionals from greater Sonoma County, joining forces on a team called the Innovation Council. This 34-member ad hoc advisory committee was recruited by the Board of Supervisors and charged with looking ahead and planning for the opportunities and challenges facing our regional economy in the upcoming years. In 2008, the council created a strategic economic plan for the county that was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13. On the short list for improvement: education, the economic climate and a green focus on business.
“So far the Innovation Council has worked hard to report on the priorities in our county,” said Jennifer Yankovich, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce and a member of the council. “We’ve identified the segments that need immediate attention and are ready to put the plan of action to work.”
Educating the future workforce
Raising the level of educational attainment among young people is the county’s biggest need, according to Ben Stone, executive director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board. The council’s first step is to implement a countywide mentoring program for education. “By mentoring our youth, we can create a positive economic impact that will affect our entire county,” said Stone.
Other immediate actions include creating a countywide database and referral mechanism to get employers engaged in education and publicizing successful models for improving Latino educational achievement, such as Roseland Prep, a charter school in Santa Rosa.
“Education is the lynchpin issue,” said Cynthia Murray, president and CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council. “Right now, there is a mismatch between the skill set of our high school graduates and the jobs available. Closing the educational gap of our Latino community will help us right that discrepancy and result in a higher quality of life for our community as a whole.”
In a recent survey, 66 percent of major Sonoma County businesses had difficulty finding qualified job applicants. Meanwhile, the baby boomers are retiring, leaving many skilled positions open. The number of career technical education courses offered in public schools is declining.
Good business
The second focus is maintaining and growing the county’s economic climate. Stone said this means both helping new businesses to get started and helping existing businesses to grow.
“We’re implementing a retention program for all major cities in the county,” said Stone. “Helping small businesses get started and then helping those that show great promise grow is a big priority.”
The council has proposed hosting a roundtable with businesses that are past the start-up phase, as well as developing a database of best practices and looking at a possible counselor/mentor program.
Green business
The final piece of the plan is to encourage environmental engagement for small businesses. The council plans to launch a Sonoma County sustainable business Web site and hold an innovation showcase at the annual State of the County next January.
“Sonoma County may not have enough energy, water, land and a transportation infrastructure to maintain a sustainable economy, adversely impacting local industries and the job base,” Murray said. “The council believes that business must take the lead in finding more efficient ways to utilize resources and we’re prepared to help make that happen.”
Funded by a $50,000 grant from the Morgan Family Foundation, as well as matching funds from seven private companies, the Innovation Action Council is currently putting together task forces to get the ball rolling for each segment. The plan will begin implementation in 2009 with a progress report due to the Board of Supervisors in early 2010.
The council is calling for an unprecedented level of collaboration among the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Grant Raeside, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance and a member of the council, is confident that they’re going in the right direction. “In my thirty-plus years in the working world,” he said, “I’ve never seen a better collaboration of the various levels of business coming together to work for one common goal. It’s been an incredible experience and I’m confident we can achieve our goals.”